by Sharon Wood Wortman
The Mountain Times
Dear Mountain Times,
My husband and I are faithful readers of The Mountain Times and have been for years. We so appreciate and enjoy the expanded coverage. I personally couldn’t help but notice the giant half-page ad published on page 18 in the May 2024 issue urging voters to re-elect State Representative James Hieb. According to the ad, the legislator and lawmaker has been endorsed by, among others, Oregon Right to Life. Rep. Lieb’s quote in his paid advertisement: “We may not agree on everything, but at least you know you can trust me to tell the truth and keep my word…” Maybe he meant voters can trust him to tell the half-truth, given his criminal history involving DUII, eluding a police officer, disorderly conduct and various vehicle and traffic violations. The ad also omits his involvement with the Proud Boys, and his arrest on August 17, 2022 at the Clackamas County Fair and Rodeo. According to Wikipedia, the state representative was arrested while intoxicated and carrying a concealed loaded handgun. The Oregonian covered the latter in its Sept. 23, 2022 and Feb. 22, 2023 Oregonlive.com editions. As a free-thinker who believes in every woman’s right to choose whether she will or won’t be a mother, I’d like this politician to know he can clearly count on me to tell the truth when I say the whole truth isn’t always in the eye of the reader.
Sharon Wood Wortman
Brightwood
my thoughts, other careers came careening by and my passion to write was placed on the back burner. Now that I am back into the art of the written word, it is an outlet that now has an even bigger and better place in my life.
Although the journalistic approach to writing is a non-biased and complete factual account of names, places and events, becoming a staff writer for the Mountain Times has realigned my focus on writing and is now something I do often as a fun, creative outlet. With several short stories, poems and a novel saved for future adventures, being able to express myself with words is something that is both a blessing and a curse. The fear of failure and judgment that comes with putting your imagination on paper can be a very nerve-racking experience, but I have found it is better to put those ideas into characters, quotes and a storyline rather than let them go to waste.
As a resident of the Mt. Hood Villages for over a decade now, I have grown to love and appreciate this most beautiful area in so many ways. As a local business owner of Coffee House 26, I have seen the many ups and downs that come with living in a tourist destination. During our shutdown with Covid I decided to take my love for reading and writing and incorporate it into my coffee shop, with the addition of new and used books for sale. Sharing both my love for coffee and reading was a dream come true, and it truly seemed to ignite a passion in others, too. Those passions came in the form of a book club, book donations and a theme every month for showcased novels.
With each passing month as a local journalist, I am reminded why I keep the art of writing a huge part of my life. Each interview, article, draft and final proof continues to inspire me to dig deeper into our community for other passionate artists and newsworthy stories. And while being a business owner, journalist and reading enthusiast is a large part of who I am both professionally and creatively, I will always be Amber Lynn, Youngstown, Ohio native, Mt. Hood local, meatball makin’ cat mom at heart.